If society as we know it collapsed...

Would you still be able to home brew?

No more store bought grains, no more premalted grains, no more sanitizers, no more grain bags, no more electric refrigerators. You'd have to grow everything you needed and do everything from scratch.


I know it's *possible,* but do you have the necessary skills?

Could you do it? :rockin:

Sure, you could do it. Man was doing it for thousands of years before we had star-san, refrigerators and such. Would the product be as consistent and what as good as we have now? Probably not.

The other part of this is: would you still brew? Probably not...expending the resources to find ingredients and brew would probably be pretty low on the the priority list when things like finding enough food to survive is an issue. On the other hand, you'd probably resort to an more easily made product in order to get your "fix" (hooch and/or some sort of distillate).

Yes, and those of us who know how to make the hooch will inherit the post apocalyptic world. If you have the alcohol, people will BRING you food.

Ha, you're right, Bobby.

I know it's possible, I meant more along the lines of do *you* have the skills to do it. In other words, could you grow the grains, malt them, etc?

I know I can't. I'm DOOMED.

I could do it. I would need more land to grow the grains. I already grow a good portion of the vegetables my family consumes. Soon I want to get into hop growing.

I agree with Bobby M. Think back to turn of the century prior to prohibition. Every little burg had a brewery.

We've been discussing this for years on here. Usually in terms of the coming zombipocalyps.
The main reason that beer, wines, meads, ciders...alcohol in general is so important to society after a collapse (or in the old days) is because nothing pathogenic can grow in them. People drank beer because water could kill them.....

So our knowlege will be extremely valuable, from a purely health and safety reason. Also basic knowlege of creating and distilling alcohol will be important too. In fact on the history channel's "The Colony" last season, one of the "survivalists" was a homebrewer and he made alcohol from a sugar wash and distilled it into fuel for their escape vehicle and for wound cleaning.

And like many of us have said on here for years, we can declare ourselves Kings of the sacred barleywater, and trade our wares for nubile slave women.

That's why we had the epic GaP (Grocery and Produce) Beer Experiment thread about fermenting liquid with non-traditional ingredients. The idea would be to raid grocery stores for fermentables and mashables.

I even designed my label for the "snake oil".......er I mean beer...



I figure I'll have my kingdom pretty well covered.

Sure you could. But first, preparations must be made....

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f19/what-preparation-you-making-coming-apocalypse-83196/

Revvy, awesome!

It's funny you mention zombies. The reason this topic cmae to mind is because I'm a horror writer.

Glad to see everyone is already getting ready for the end.

onipar said:

Revvy, awesome!

It's funny you mention zombies. The reason this topic cmae to mind is because I'm a horror writer.

Glad to see everyone is already getting ready for the end.

Click to expand...

You need to write a horror book based on homebrewing. Maybe your last batch turns bad and turns your friends in to zombies.

i have no qualms with taking any of you out if you get bitten. just fyi.

JLW said:

You need to write a horror book based on homebrewing. Maybe your last batch turns bad and turns your friends in to zombies.

Click to expand...

I just may. My first novel is actually called Soundtrack to the End of the World It *is* sort of a zombie novel, but in place of the brew is music.

:rockin:

So would we only be using wild yeasts for our beer in this post-apocolytic world?

There's a ton of zombipocalypes threads on here. This forum has a penchant for zombies. I guess all of homebrewing does, since Northern Brewer even features an end of the world theme on their catalogs.

onipar said:

So would we only be using wild yeasts for our beer in this post-apocolytic world?

Click to expand...

No we'd be using bread yeast, yeast from bottle conditioned beers, we'd be washing our yeast and maybe even be making "yeast sticks" like they did in ancient times, taking a stick and dipping it in the trub, then hanging them to dry. And when we are ready to pitch our yeast we would stir the stick in the wort to innoculate the wort. Then after we bottles we'd do it again.

onipar said:

Ha, you're right, Bobby.

I know it's possible, I meant more along the lines of do *you* have the skills to do it. In other words, could you grow the grains, malt them, etc?

I know I can't. I'm DOOMED.

Click to expand...

Sure you could do it...its not rocket science.

The question is would you do it? Chances are: 1. you wouldn't have the time to invest in it, with trying to stay alive. 2. If you had the the time, you would go with the easiest way possible and that depends on how easily grains grow in your part of the world. For someone in the North East it might be easier to cultivate fruit trees for juice or grow starchy tubers instead.

Mmm, starchy tubers.

Revvy, you've really thought about this! I hope you aren't planning anything...diabolical.

I'm actually kinda surprised there are so many zombie/beer enthusiasts. I wonder if there are any beer flavors called "zombie." Maybe once I get better at brewing I'll do a bunch of horror related brews. Halloween here I come!

EDIT: Broadbill, no, I probably wouldn't at first. But after a while, assuming the world is somewhat livable and food isn't *too* hard to grow and come by, I'd eventually get around to it.

you guys would enjoy this! http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/ I listen every day to and from work. Check it out.

Better idea.

BMC turns everyone into zombies. The only way to save the world is with hombrew.

Oh wait, metaphorically that has already happened.

Revvy said:

There's a ton of zombipocalypes threads on here. This forum has a penchant for zombies. I guess all of homebrewing does, since Northern Brewer even features an end of the world theme on their catalogs.

Click to expand...

I guess this is as good of a place to ask this as anywhere: What is the fascination with zombies, apocalypse, or the talk about having to prepare for such an event? I see it on this forum, but I see this fascination elsewhere as well.

Is it supposed to be tongue/cheek response to those folks that really believe in the SHTF and/or apocalypse stuff (kind of like what the Flying Spaghetti Monster is to religion (bless his noodly appendages.

Malting and toasting is surprisingly easy, if forced to do it. Though I'd work on some good smoke beer recipes, in case all you have to do that with is fire.

First thing I'd do is try to get all the wooden barrels I could get my hands on, and, reminiscent of the Flanders Ale method, inoculate each one with some quality yeasts and blends however I saw fit. I think that's a somewhat more modern version of the old "yeast stick".

I'm not sure how long they would continue producing good beer for though. I do have the ability to maintain and propagate yeast cultures, and I'm only really missing a freezer capable of about -80° temperatures to be able to do so indefinitely. I could quickly set out to steal one, but I think even running that stuff on a generator would be a waste of precious fuel. Sure, you can distill ethanol, methanol, or even biodiesel, but the amount of source material needed for a good supply of fuel is enormous. Though it's possible that the community could recognize the importance of good beer, and all contribute fuel to keep a brewery running. Just make sure you can make a good Bud Light clone, or your head might end up on a stick!

Come to think of it... where did all the electricity in I Am Legend come from?

I'm thinking wine would be easier: 1. Find grapes. 2. Put grapes in container. 3. Wait.

Sure, it's no Laughing Magpie but it'll do the trick.

I'm in the middle of curing mission olives harvested from a neighbor's tree. Inedible raw, yet surprisingly simple to make, just puncture the skin, and soak in a brine solution for three weeks. Now are delicious.

Last year was a mast year for the valley oaks in our area, I could have filled a house with acorns in a couple of days collecting, possible beer source.

I've been eying the oats and wild grasses left behind by Franciscan monks in NorCal. Some year I'll treat you to a thread on their malting process...

broadbill said:

I guess this is as good of a place to ask this as anywhere: What is the fascination with zombies, apocalypse, or the talk about having to prepare for such an event? I see it on this forum, but I see this fascination elsewhere as well.

Is it supposed to be tongue/cheek response to those folks that really believe in the SHTF and/or apocalypse stuff (kind of like what the Flying Spaghetti Monster is to religion (bless his noodly appendages.

Click to expand...

It's mostly an opportunity for some really good thought experiments, while keeping it fun. (I think)

emjay said:

It's mostly an opportunity for some really good thought experiments, while keeping it fun. (I think)

Click to expand...

Got it. So instead of having to deal with the reality that I might have to bludgeon another human to death with a shovel handle to keep get from stealing my food, I can idealize the situation instead and envision myself as a kick-ass, shotgun-wielding post-apocalyptic warrior who enjoys blasting the heads off zombies?

I think you are right, its only fun to think about when its zombies

broadbill said:

Got it. So instead of having to deal with the reality that I might have to bludgeon another human to death with a shovel handle to keep get from stealing my food, I can idealize the situation instead and envision myself as a kick-ass, shotgun-wielding post-apocalyptic warrior who enjoys blasting the heads off zombies?

I think you are right, its only fun to think about when its zombies

Click to expand...

ha ha ha...LMFAO....awesome dude......you just made my day.

Prost!

emjay said:

Come to think of it... where did all the electricity in I Am Legend come from?

Click to expand...

one person being the sole user of any fossil fuels in a city with hudreds of thousands of cars with full tanks of gas.

also, he gained a mutant power and can create gasoline now.

I think you guys are missing the underlying point of this thread, and that is self-reliance.
Not too long ago there was a thread that basically asked 'besides beer, what do you make for yourself.' There were many impressive posts, especially Yoopers.

Why buy something that you can make for yourself? or recycle, renew, and reuse?
Why pay sin taxes, when you don't have to?
Why not be a producer instead of a consumer, especially for your immediate family?

You can fantasize about the post-apocalyptic world, but you are already living it.
Most have lost the desire and subsequent means of self-reliance, homebrewing may be someone's first attempt at recapturing it...

"The Colony" was a fantastic show. There are MANY reasons to watch that show for inspiration and information.

I hopefully soon will be a home owner of a nice country hobby farm on about 15-20 acres half of that should be wooded. I am not thinking about the end of the world, I am thinking about how I can maximize my resources to be able to stay "off the grid" indefinitely. Should the world end and leave me behind it would just be any other day for me.

But we are talking about home brewing...specifically. As someone else stated I think it would be easier to make mead/wines and braggot type drinks than straight beer. This does not make it impossible to make a beer, it just makes it more difficult. If you could plant and harvest barley, you can make beer. To me, this seems like a luxury item considering what all would be required in a limited resource world. HOWEVER homebrew beer has a shelf life of near forever so one could brew up and store enough beer for a near never ending pipeline before the end comes...

Revvy said:

I even designed my label for the "snake oil".......er I mean beer...

Click to expand...

Should've added diabetes & all forms of Hepatitis to that list of cures.

onipar said:

Would you still be able to home brew?

No more store bought grains, no more premalted grains, no more sanitizers, no more grain bags, no more electric refrigerators. You'd have to grow everything you needed and do everything from scratch.


I know it's *possible,* but do you have the necessary skills?

Could you do it? :rockin:

Click to expand...

I could do it. I'd probably make hooch, but it would be alcohol.

broadbill said:

Got it. So instead of having to deal with the reality that I might have to bludgeon another human to death with a shovel handle to keep get from stealing my food, I can idealize the situation instead and envision myself as a kick-ass, shotgun-wielding post-apocalyptic warrior who enjoys blasting the heads off zombies?

I think you are right, its only fun to think about when its zombies

Click to expand...

Screw the shovel handle. I have a 1911 w/ PLENTY of ammo.

Hex said:

I think you guys are missing the underlying point of this thread, and that is self-reliance.
Not too long ago there was a thread that basically asked 'besides beer, what do you make for yourself.' There were many impressive posts, especially Yoopers.

Why buy something that you can make for yourself? or recycle, renew, and reuse?
Why pay sin taxes, when you don't have to?
Why not be a producer instead of a consumer, especially for your immediate family?

You can fantasize about the post-apocalyptic world, but you are already living it.
Most have lost the desire and subsequent means of self-reliance, homebrewing may be someone's first attempt at recapturing it...

Click to expand...

Thanks, Hex. Yes, this was the initial intention. Truly it had nothing to do with zombies or anything like that, but I figured I'd let the thread evolve naturally.

It was probably my fault for saying "if society collapsed." It just seemed the easiest way to get in the mindset of "now we *have* to become self sustaining."

But I guess what I was envisioning wasn't so much a post-apocalyptic world where there are limited resources as I was a pre-industrial time.

It was more a question of if the ingredients weren't readily available, could you produce them in order to brew?

It sounds like a lot of you really could, which is awesome!

Besides being new to brewing and not having a whole lot of intimate knowledge of the process, my personal weak points would be growing and malting the grain, and "washing" or reusing yeast.

Also, for those saying it'd be easier to make a different type of alcohol, that's a legitimate response. I bet hard ciders and mead and wines would definitely be more prevalent.

Anyway, thanks for playing along.

so is it the apocolyspe or just the end of society?

if it is the apocolyspe then you'll probably be more worried about your neighbor trying to eat your children than homebrewing.

Society as we know it (read "the Dollar") is about to collapse anyway but i don't see how that would effect being able to homebrew. farmer's will still farm, barter markets will pop up, and people will still brew.
heck i saw on here the other day someone said they regularly keep 700 lbs of malt on hand. fuel will be more of a factor wether or not you are able to brew.

get your gold, silver and guns now boys and girls.

When SWMBO tells me to quit working 'cause she wants to support me and pay all my bills I'll start worrying about making soap in my backyard. Until then I'll keep on spending my days inching my way up Debt Mountain.

I think if the world went apocalypse, though, I would make whiskey. Good, clear corn whiskey. Because I'm thinking that pretty much everyday I would wake up, look around, and need a stiff drink.

^Silly capitalist, hippies don't need soap!

This idea here, about what to do in the event of an apycolypse/society breakdown was the reason i started looking into brewing at all ( to say nothing of how cool it is to make your own beer) i personally have learned how to malt my own grains and dry them instead of buying premalted grains/extracts. I also just bottled 1 gallon of homemade mead that, despite not being aged yet, tasted awesome! I am currently looking into growing my own barley although until i get more land it proabably won't be an issue. self sufficenciy rules! my wife has beagan making her own cheese, vinegars and is about to try her hand at making wine.

onipar said:

So would we only be using wild yeasts for our beer in this post-apocolytic world?

Click to expand...

I dunno about you but I have packets of US-05, S-04, S-23, and S-33, and Montrachet in addition to Red Star baker's yeast in my fridge. I am pretty sure I can culture those and keep them going, and additionally there are live cultures in the lambics and other Belgian styles I've got, and I could also culture some strains from bottles of homebrew and commercial brews in my garage.

AZbrewer1 said:

This idea here, about what to do in the event of an apycolypse/society breakdown was the reason i started looking into brewing at all ( to say nothing of how cool it is to make your own beer) i personally have learned how to malt my own grains and dry them instead of buying premalted grains/extracts. I also just bottled 1 gallon of homemade mead that, despite not being aged yet, tasted awesome! I am currently looking into growing my own barley although until i get more land it proabably won't be an issue. self sufficenciy rules! my wife has beagan making her own cheese, vinegars and is about to try her hand at making wine.

Click to expand...

That's really cool, AZbrewer. Yeah, I've tried my hand at some random self sufficiency things along the way: my own veggie garden, composting, etc. The stuff I really want to try, I'd need more land for. I wanted to try cheese making, but would prefer to have my own cows for the milk. I have wild grapes growing on my property, so I have considered trying to make wine, but never got around to it.

I'd like to use the wild blueberries around my house for a flavored beer at some point too.

onipar said:

That's really cool, AZbrewer. Yeah, I've tried my hand at some random self sufficiency things along the way: my own veggie garden, composting, etc. The stuff I really want to try, I'd need more land for. I wanted to try cheese making, but would prefer to have my own cows for the milk. I have wild grapes growing on my property, so I have considered trying to make wine, but never got around to it.

I'd like to use the wild blueberries around my house for a flavored beer at some point too.

Click to expand...

blueberry mead or blueberry wine might be awesome

also, If it came down to it i'd just start fermenting any fruit i could find

edb23 said:

blueberry mead or blueberry wine might be awesome

also, If it came down to it i'd just start fermenting any fruit i could find

Click to expand...

My brother was keen on trying to make mead; I'll mention the blueberry flavor to him. Thanks for the idea!